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FROM Haas Admissions Blog: 6 Ways You Can Balance an MBA with Work and Life |
Think pursuing your MBA means sacrificing your family, friends, or current job? Not so. The Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program is designed as a full student experience on a part-time schedule. We want to propel your career forward while giving you the flexibility to integrate school into your day-to-day life. How can you do it? We’re so glad you asked. From choosing a schedule that suits you and enjoying the support of peers, professors, and the program office to integrating your job and school right from the start, there are achievable ways to balance an MBA with work and life—and you'll find them in our free ebook, Balancing Your MBA with Work & Life. If you’ve been considering an MBA, let us help you find your balance and take the next step with confidence. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: From Teaching to MBA to Consulting: My Path to Social Sector Leadership |
I decide to make a career in education the day I met Efia, in the summer before my final year of college. She was eight years old and had spent her entire life at Buduburam Refugee Camp outside of Accra, Ghana. One of seven children, Efia was the only one who attended school. Tuition was twelve dollars and her family could afford to send only one child. A few of her siblings had been ruled out due to poor eyesight or a limp, so the choice came down to Efia and her sister Dofi. A flip of a coin determined that Efia would go to school and Dofi would break rocks at the quarry to pay Efia’s tuition. Whether in Ghana or the US, I believe a child’s access to quality education should not be left to chance or determined by their zip code. For nine years, I worked in organizations that shared these beliefs. The problem was that they lacked the management capacity to navigate their toughest business challenges and achieve scale. Over time, I became convinced that to become a social-sector leader who could lead large-scale reform, I needed to complement my education industry experience with robust business skills. Deciding on business school Having been an interdisciplinary studies major in undergrad, I wholeheartedly believe that many of the challenges facing non-profits are best addressed through cross-sector creative problem-solving. But I had a problem: I’d never taken a single business course and, almost a decade into my career, it was unlikely that I could organically make the jump to a business function on my own. I knew I needed an MBA to make that transition. Choosing Haas was easy—the values-driven culture and tight-knit community hooked me right away. My interest in consulting Once I decided to go to business school, I immediately locked in on consulting as my next career move. Consulting is unique in that it provides a different work experience with each project. I could work on a turnaround for a failing energy company and, in my next project, develop a marketing campaign for a clothing brand. As someone new to the private sector, I was drawn to this opportunity to get the most business exposure across industries and functions in the shortest amount of time. Landing an internship Though I was certain I wanted to work in consulting, I was apprehensive about my prospects. With no formal business training, I was concerned that I would be ill-prepared for case interviews and, more importantly, that firms would be skeptical of my background. An important part of my internship search, therefore, was seeking out peers whose journey mirrored my own in some way. That wasn’t hard at Haas: from military veterans to fellow Teach For America alumni like myself, I found many classmates who had made similar transitions and were full of advice and encouragement to navigate my own search. As it turns out, my “non-traditional” background wasn’t that non-traditional after all: Consulting firms are full of Peace Corps volunteers, former pro athletes, and even concert timpanists. Case prep was tough. I had never even heard of a contribution margin. I had no clue how to segment the automobile market. I hadn’t done “public math” since high school. One again, Haasies were here to help me. Through the constant support of my classmates, I logged 50+ practice cases, which helped me feel prepared to go into my consulting interviews. All that preparation led me to an internship with McKinsey & Company after my first year. My first study of the summer involved preparing a biotech company to launch a breakthrough cancer therapy. This study totally changed how I viewed my time in consulting. Before, I had thought I would sacrifice my sense of impact in the service of gaining new skills and credibility in the private sector. But my summer left me feeling quite inspired by the opportunities for impact within consulting, and made it an easy decision for me to accept a full-time offer with McKinsey after graduation. What’s next? I’m often asked how long I’ll stay in consulting. Truthfully, I don’t know where I’ll be in five or ten years or in what role, but I do know the set of experiences I’d like to have collected—across a variety of public and private sectors and a range of functional experience from strategy to operations to finance. My long-term goal is to take this collection of experiences and apply them back to the social sector, where I’d like to do non-profit mergers and acquisitions. Never heard of it? That’s because the nonprofit M&A industry doesn’t really exist today. I’d like to change that. With over 1.5 million nonprofits in the US alone, the sector is highly fragmented and resource inefficient, leading to very limited impact. I see M&A as an effective growth strategy for nonprofits seeking to improve their effectiveness, spread best practices, expand their reach all while making better use of scarce financial resources. Armed with my business school and consulting skill-set, I’d like to shape and grow this nascent industry. Related posts MBA Student Perspective: How I'm Leaning in to Become One of the 7% of Women in Venture Capital MBA Student Perspective: Finding My Voice as a Nontraditional Student MBA Student Perspective: Sharing Haas With a Partner MBA Student Perspective: Choosing a Graduate Degree to Maximize My Social Impact MBA Student Perspective: "I Am From Saudi Arabia and I Am a Feminist" |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Balancing an MBA with Work, Life...and a Passion for Dragon Boating |
Back and forth she went, weighing her options. When is the best time to get an MBA? If she pursued an MBA, what would be sacrificed? A full time job and a passion for dragon boating played an important part in her life. If she pursued an MBA, what would be sacrificed? “I considered an MBA for a year or so, but knew I’d need to taper off of competitive dragon boating to do so, so I put applying on the back burner,” says Christine Jiang. Christine had worked at PG&E in finance, but then transitioned into a program management role. That’s when she decided a part time MBA would be best; balancing an MBA with work might work for her. How could you work while pursuing your MBA? Get our free ebook onBalancing Your MBA with Work & Life to find out. Hoping to balance it all, Christine made the leap to pursue her degree in the Evening & Weekend MBA Program at Berkeley-Haas. The combination of reputation and flexibility were key to her decision. If she started a Berkeley-Haas team, she could continue dragon boating... Dragon boat racing is a team sport from ancient China. Today it an international sport with competitive teams here in the Bay Area. Christine practiced dragon boating 3/4ths of the year, 3 times a week, with workouts in between. She was also the co-captain of the PG&E dragon boat team in the novice division. Trading dragon boating for an MBA and her new position at work was a sacrifice she was willing to make. Yet balancing everything was still a hope. A hope that Berkeley-Haas helped nurture. “During orientation, fun facts about people in the entering class are shared and it was mentioned that I was a captain on the PG&E dragon boat team—almost immediately people began asking me about the sport,” Christine shares. That got her thinking. If she started a team, she could continue dragon boating, and it would be a way to network and team build. She went to work building her team. Her hope was becoming a reality. Christine could not only earn an MBA while working, but pursue—and share—her passion... The Haas EWMBA dragon boat team, YOHO (You Only Haas Once) Dragonboathaas (pictured above), made their debut at the Northern California International Dragon Boat race in September 2016 and placed first in their division. Christine was thrilled. It looked like she would be able not only to earn an MBA while working, but to pursue— and share—her passion . Along with dragon boating, she was able to run for officer positions at other clubs on campus and discover new passions. In turn making her more likely to try something new. “The big thing is that now when someone says let’s go do this, I barely think twice. If my schedule allows and I'm interested, I say yes,” says Christine. She saw an opportunity to merge her life with her education, and she took it. Christine chose the Berkeley Evening and Weekend MBA program because at Haas, we support the balance of life and business higher education. She saw an opportunity to merge her life with her education and she took it. How could you balance your education with your passion? Find out with our new ebook. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Graduate Reflections from Berkeley MBA for Executives Program (video) |
It's really about investing in yourself," said Kelly Brashear on graduating from the Berkeley MBA for Executives Program. "I'll never be able to explain how big an impact it’s had on me. The investment that I’ve made in myself is going to give back long beyond what I can expect.” At January's graduation ceremony of Berkeley MBA for Executives Program, students, faculty, and families celebrated the graduating cohort of 69 students in the EMBA Class of 2016. Students reflected on the lasting impact of the rigorous 19-month program on their perspectives and career paths. “I feel I really want to give more back to community and that comes from the values that come through really strongly in the EMBA program,” said Tom Duggan. The four defining principles of the Haas School of Business create a core set of values to guide the work of students in the program. Many students note the transformative thinking that is a result of the program. “Before, I saw myself on a very narrow career path,” said Adam Kerin, reflecting on how the program has influenced his thinking. “But all our immersion weeks, especially the last one in DC, have me looking at a much bigger picture, even potentially a role in government.” “I see myself differently – my level of confidence is much higher,” said Kris Piliero. “I’m much more comfortable speaking in front of people, and that’s a huge part of what I do in my career. I’m excited to do it!” For this particularly tight-knit class, the power of relationships and the network of support was a recurring theme in graduate reflections. “I look now at the network I’ve gained, the people I’ve met. The doors are already opening,” said Scott Olszewski. “Other people should give themselves the opportunity of an MBA… The learning is amazing – but the people, network, and family are never-ending.” Kelly Brashear echoed that sentiment in her appreciation of “all of the professors and all of my classmates—really 68 new best friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life.” “We are full of pride at the achievements of this remarkable group of people. We eagerly anticipate your great accomplishments,” said Dean Rich Lyons, addressing the class at graduation. “The ripple effects from these 69 people on our world is and will be incalculable. After this, you can accomplish anything, I guarantee that.” |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Should I Retake the GMAT |
Taking standardized tests like the GMAT and GRE is, of course, part of applying to top MBA programs—but did you know that applicants are taking these tests more than once in hopes of increasing their score? The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that nearly 30 percent of people take the GMAT two times or more, and the Educational Testing Service reports that approximately one in four people take the GRE more than once. In both cases, individuals who take the test twice usually score higher the second time around. Does the Berkeley MBA Have a Minimum Required GMAT Score? Berkeley MBA Programs have no minimum required GMAT or GRE score, but our admissions committees do suggest trying to get the best score you can, based on the mean and median scores for programs in which you’re interested. Prepping for business school entrance exams? Download our free ebook with Berkeley MBA GMAT/GRE Test Prep Tips "We don’t have a minimum score, but we do suggest an applicant shoot for the 600 range on the GMAT in order to be competitive for the program," says Susan Petty, director of admissions for the Berkeley MBA for Executives Program. "That's not to say that we won't take people under 600; it just depends on the strength of the rest of their application." If you don’t hit your particular target on the first try, Susan recommends retaking the GMAT or GRE. Doing so can make you look good as an applicant because it shows commitment and a dedication to studying that can bode well for success in the program. "We’ll often encourage people, especially those who have been away from standardized tests for a long time, to retake the exam. Taking it the first time is almost a refresh. We find that if they take it again, they can often do a lot better," says Susan. "In some cases, when we see a lot of strength in the rest of application, and the standardized test score is an area that is not that competitive, we'll actually reach out to applicants and ask them if they're willing to retake the exam." Why Retake the GMAT or GRE Candice Knoll, a student in the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program and co-president of the EWMBA Student Association, had a good score on the GMAT the first time around, but she wanted to strengthen her application even further, so she decided to retake the test. She recommends that other applicants do the same. "Students should take it again if they have the chance. It doesn't hurt you. If you take it again, and don't get a better score, you can cancel that score," says Candice. Test prep…and more test prep can also help you get back into school mode by sharpening your critical thinking and study skills so that you are more prepared for business school. Whether you're asking yourself, "Should I retake the GMAT?" or getting ready to test your skills for the first time, our free ebook can help. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Should I Retake the GMAT? |
Taking standardized tests like the GMAT and GRE is, of course, part of applying to top MBA programs—but did you know that applicants are taking these tests more than once in hopes of increasing their score? The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that nearly 30 percent of people take the GMAT two times or more, and the Educational Testing Service reports that approximately one in four people take the GRE more than once. In both cases, individuals who take the test twice usually score higher the second time around. Does the Berkeley MBA Have a Minimum Required GMAT Score? Berkeley MBA Programs have no minimum required GMAT or GRE score, but our admissions committees do suggest trying to get the best score you can, based on the mean and median scores for programs in which you’re interested. Prepping for business school entrance exams? Download our free ebook with Berkeley MBA GMAT/GRE Test Prep Tips "We don’t have a minimum score, but we do suggest an applicant shoot for the 600 range on the GMAT in order to be competitive for the program," says Susan Petty, director of admissions for the Berkeley MBA for Executives Program. "That's not to say that we won't take people under 600; it just depends on the strength of the rest of their application." If you don’t hit your particular target on the first try, Susan recommends retaking the GMAT or GRE. Doing so can make you look good as an applicant because it shows commitment and a dedication to studying that can bode well for success in the program. "We’ll often encourage people, especially those who have been away from standardized tests for a long time, to retake the exam. Taking it the first time is almost a refresh. We find that if they take it again, they can often do a lot better," says Susan. "In some cases, when we see a lot of strength in the rest of application, and the standardized test score is an area that is not that competitive, we'll actually reach out to applicants and ask them if they're willing to retake the exam." Why Retake the GMAT or GRE Candice Knoll, a student in the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program and co-president of the EWMBA Student Association, had a good score on the GMAT the first time around, but she wanted to strengthen her application even further, so she decided to retake the test. She recommends that other applicants do the same. "Students should take it again if they have the chance. It doesn't hurt you. If you take it again, and don't get a better score, you can cancel that score," says Candice. Test prep…and more test prep can also help you get back into school mode by sharpening your critical thinking and study skills so that you are more prepared for business school. Whether you're asking yourself, "Should I retake the GMAT?" or getting ready to test your skills for the first time, our free ebook can help. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Balancing an MBA With Work, Wedding Planning, and More |
A mentor recommended she get her MBA. She knew it would be a time commitment, but it would help her get ahead. Shanna Wagnor was ambitious. She worked at Salesforce, she exercised daily and she liked to spend time with friends. How could she fit an MBA into her busy life without the sacrifice? Full-time MBA studies weren't an option. She had bills to pay. Part-time—now that could work, she realized. Shanna did her homework. “I did a lot of research. I met with as many people as I could. I went to the Berkeley-Haas Women’s Dinner in SF. I met Courtney Chandler (then program Dean) who gave me advice,” remembers Shanna. And that’s what it took. Confident that balancing an MBA with work and life could happen, Shanna applied to the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program, to get ahead and keep her job in the process. Balancing the Dream with...Dreamforce The biggest event of the year for Salesforce, is Dreamforce., the annual 4-day long event for customers and potential customers. It takes a whole year to plan. The week of the show, Shanna works 12 hour days. From morning to night, there are presentations, meetings, events, roundtables, parties, and more parties. And for Shanna, this time there was school. “That week I had to miss Wed-Friday classes and, to be honest, though I went to class the week before, I was distracted… just trying to keep both things moving,” says Shanna. Lucky for her, early communication paid off. She told her professors about the event in advance, and they understood. She also traveled a lot, and had to work late at times. But working with her professors she was able to balance her career and school. “As long as you stay on top of the communication and ensure it’s open and early, the staff and the professors can be incredibly accommodating and understanding,” remembers Shanna. Marrying Work and Life Balancing a demanding career and an MBA was challenging for Shanna. But not so challenging that she couldn’t also find time to plan her wedding the last year of the program. “I just got married this past summer, so also had to plan my wedding during my EWMBA,” she says. If you talk to Shanna now, she’ll tell you. Every minute counts. There have been a lot of advantages to her MBA professionally but the biggest lesson learned is this: use every minute. Work, workout, meet with friends, even plan a wedding. Finding Balance After the prompting of a mentor, Shanna chose the Berkeley Evening and Weekend MBA program. At Haas we support the balance of a demanding career and business higher education. She saw a chance to get ahead and keep working and she took it. ...How will you balance your career and education? Find out today. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: How an EMBA Propelled Marketer Nick Johnson from Startup to Salesforce |
Meet Nick Johnson – a director of marketing at Salesforce and a 2016 graduate of the Berkeley-Haas EMBA program. Nick spoke with us about his Berkeley MBA, his career in marketing, and his recent shift from startup work to Salesforce. Could you describe your role at Salesforce? As a marketing director working in the Content and Corporate Messaging team, I'm responsible for Salesforce's Executive Thought Leadership program. It's a fascinating role: I'm helping to produce and share fascinating content with an executive-level audience about huge issues like artificial intelligence. What did you do leading up to that position? Prior to Salesforce, I developed, launched, and ran two business media startups: The Incite Group and Useful Social Media, which focused on how social media was increasingly changing the way companies and customers interacted. As social media moved from being a distinct responsibility within business to something embedded in many different roles, I began to focus more specifically on the world of marketing. I launched the Incite Group to cater to senior Fortune 500 marketing audiences, and to develop and market conferences, reports, and white papers for them. During my time with the Incite Group, I was approached by the Financial Times to write a book. The somewhat ambitiously titled The Future of Marketing was published in mid-2015, just before I began my studies at Berkeley-Haas. How has earning an MBA been valuable in landing a position and working in marketing? My Berkeley MBA has been enormously helpful in three ways: building my network, adding legitimacy to my resume, and helping me translate and augment my skillset. For network-building, I found the help of the Career Management Group to be enormously useful – particularly its ability to connect me with people working in-house at the companies I was targeting. That initial conversation is very useful in defining whether or not a role is suitable and it can help get your foot in the door. Regarding legitimacy – I'd worked for startups before Salesforce, and they were not household names. Being able to say I was a Berkeley-Haas alumnus has helped reinforce my application and has shown that I am able to 'cut it' beyond my experiences at Incite and USM. Finally, I was fortunate to develop a wide range of skills at Incite and USM, including marketing, product development, and strategy. But all of these skills were within the same small-business ecosystem. My time at Haas has given me the ability and confidence to translate those skills to other environments. What were some of the most valuable courses or aspects of your Berkeley-Haas education? I found our strategy courses – Global Strategy and Core Strategy – both fascinating and enormously useful. The frameworks we were taught continue to be really helpful in defining and resolving business problems. Being far more of a poet than a quant, I found our quant-heavy classes challenging. However, they were probably the most helpful of all. In a space like marketing, being data-driven is key: those quant-focused classes really helped me understand and use data more effectively. Would you recommend the Berkeley MBA for Executives Program to people interested in marketing? Absolutely. Not only is the course-quality exceptional and the teaching of high standard, but you build a really tight network with your 68 classmates. You start to understand business problems from a variety of angles and, in a world where traditional roles and responsibilities are increasingly outmoded, having the ability to work across organizational boundaries is critical. Haas has really helped me learn how to do that. Want to hear more about the MBA program that's helped Nick with his career in marketing? |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Balancing an MBA With Family—When Family Is in India |
From activities outside the classroom to weekend events, school was center stage from day one for Barun Mazumdar. He was committed to his studies in the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program. Barun joined Haas while working as a project manager at Akamai Technologies. He was even nominated VP of the Haas Technology Club and running for an executive leadership position with the Evening & Weekend MBA Association. Everything was in balance, and then the unexpected happened. During the Fall 2015 semester, with finals on the line, Barun’s father passed away. Barun would now need to travel to India and be away from school for 2-3 weeks. In ways he hadn't expected, he found himself balancing an MBA with family needs. Wondering how it's possible to balance the personal and the professional with MBA studies? It can be done, and ourWork + Life + MBAebook shows you how. “I first reached out to the program office on a Saturday morning to convey that I had to leave for India immediately," says Barun. "The team was very sympathetic and helpful and said they’d help in any way they could.” Barun was in a bind. He chose Berkeley-Haas because of its location, reputation, and flexibility. With a family need in India added to the mix, he would now experience Haas differently. Working Out the Grade At the time of his father’s death, Barun was taking an experiential course that required intensive in-class participation. Missing even one or two classes could mean having to retake the course. Barun was stressed but resourceful. With the help of a classmate, he was able to arrange a livestream that would allow him watch and participate in discussions all the way from India. Fellow students even offered to take detailed class notes with in-class responses and full interactions. With all of this in place, the professor—also sympathetic to Barun’s situation—was willing to see how it all would work. “It was way beyond expectation that my classmates would do this. Instead of completely missing classes, I got to attend them, with people waving and saying hi to me onscreen,” beams Barun. "I wasn't prepared to face the toughest time of my life. Family came first, and there was no silver lining. However, having a support system and extended family back at Haas gave me some solace." Barun was able to go to India for his father’s funeral and finish his course work with the help of the students and faculty at Haas. Why Balance with Haas Barun came to Haas to build his network, gain business skills, and grow personally. During the journey, he realized he had gotten much more. “It’s given me more confidence at my workplace: the confidence of thinking differently and coming up with solutions,” says Barun. Through it all, Barun was able to advance his career and gain a unique perspective on teamwork, support, and flexibility at Berkeley-Haas. Finding Balance Barun chose the Berkeley Evening and Weekend MBA Program because at Haas, we support your need to balance life’s unexpected ups and downs with your business education. Barun saw a chance to honor his father and stay on course, and he took it. How could you balance your life with an MBA? Find out with our new ebook. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Why an Accelerated Part-time MBA Option Was Right for Nikhil Kumar |
When Nikhil Kumar was deciding on part-time MBA programs, a 2.5-year accelerated plan was important to him. Ultimately, having that option played a big role in his choosing of the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program. “I knew I wanted to complete a program in as little as 2.5 years,” he says. For Nikhil, a Technical Marketing Engineer at Rohde & Schwarz, the decision was a matter of personal productivity. "The way I normally function, I like to start and finish a project without taking breaks. This way, I remain focused.." Knowing his best style allowed Nikhil to tap into the benefits he truly wanted from the program: from working with his fellow students in the classroom to gaining skills and knowledge he could apply in the real world. Of course, there was also the benefit of saving a bit of time. "I saved time with the 2.5-year plan…and I could more quickly apply all that I've learned." Most notably, Nikhil didn't feel his accelerated pace sacrificed the social aspect at Haas at all—a concern students may have about cutting their time short. "I also built a lot of relationships," he says, "and that's key to any business school experience." I saved time...I also built a lot of relationships, and that's key to any business school experience.” Nikhil advises prospective students to explore which timeline best aligns with their goals in the long run and execute that plan. "For me, I entered the Berkeley MBA Program with the goal to finish in 2.5 years. I always knew I wanted to do this." Want to learn more about an accelerated part-time MBA option available through the Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA Program? Request a personal consultation. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Women in Tech: 5 Things I Learned About Succeeding in Silicon Valley |
There’s been a lot in the news recently about the challenges women face in Silicon Valley—and in the tech world more broadly. Since many women here at Haas have come from tech or are looking to break in, the Haas Technology Club invited three female executives to a fireside chat to talk about what it takes to succeed in the Valley. Our panelists included Liana Salaymeh, vice president of Global HR at Visa; Cathy Conk, director of product innovation at Netflix; and Eleanor Stribling, vice president of product at Kevala Inc. Here are five key insights I took away: 1. Be Savvy on Salaries When negotiating pay for a new position, don't disclose your prior salary. Instead, quote the market rate (unless your prior salary is higher than the market rate!). When negotiating for a raise, rather than comparing numbers with other people, focus on your scope of work and make sure you are paid what you are worth...and more. 2. Assess Culture Ask questions that help you understand what type of company culture you are walking into or operating in. Questions like: What does success look like?; What does innovation look like?; Introduce me to your rising star; and Describe a person who is not successful can help you determine whether the company culture is right for you. Often, Silicon Valley admires attributes that are more outwardly apparent in men than women. (Why is that? That’s a question outside the scope of this post!) In order to succeed in the valley, it is important to be authentic. Don't worry so much about how others perceive you. Be open and candid and do not self-censor or limit your voice. 3. Do Not Perform Quietly Talk about yourself and speak up for your work: I did it; I worked with the team," and "I am awesome." Just because you quietly work hard and perform well does not mean you will be recognized for it. Also become an advocate for others. Talk about what a great contribution they’ve made—and mean it of course. That in turn will cause folks to talk about you. 4. Speak Up If you are in a meeting and have something to say, make sure you say it! Don't worry if someone else has already said something similar to your idea—it’s still important to share your point of view. By not speaking up, it may not be clear if you disagree or agree. It is okay to be wrong, but always show you have an opinion to contribute. 5. Leverage All Resources Network, go to meetups, join a developer community, keep up with tech trends. Listen to podcasts such asRadical Candor. You never know when a connection will pay off! The moral of the story? Be resilient. Strong. Steadfast. Agile. Adaptable. Be a #GirlBoss. The Haas Tech Club event was co-hosted by Risa Shen, FTMBA 2018, President of the Haas Tech Club. Notes for article by Alicia Huang, FTMBA 2018. Related posts: Do I Need an MBA to Be a Product Manager: Kavya Mallesh at SlingMedia Do I Need an MBA to Be a Product Manager, Part II Do I Need an MBA to Be a Product Manager, Part III |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Student Perspective: The Berkeley MBA for Social Impact |
How do you see yourself making an impact on society?
Ijeh Ogbechie, MBA 17, Principal, Haas Socially Responsible Investment Fund (Evening & Weekend MBA) Senior Operations Associate, Algert Global LLC “I want to focus my career toward a position where I can have a greater positive social impact on my community. Berkeley-Haas is hands-down the best school in that sector. It not only offers great classes on the topic, but I'm also I’m forming networks with companies and individuals who are committed to social impact.” Katie Benintende, MBA 15, Mayfield Fellow, Net Impact VP (Full-time MBA) Senior Strategy Lead, Google “When I was on the fence, deciding between pursuing a technology path or exploring the social impact sector, career coaches helped me sort out the opportunities to do both. There are a lot of tech companies that have strong missions to be environmentally sustainable.” To learn more, download our free ebook on the Berkeley MBA and Social Impact Andrew Hening, MBA 17 (Evening & Weekend MBA) Director Homeless Planning & Outreach, City of San Rafael “I first thought I would use my MBA studies as a foundation for starting a socially responsible business. My new job with the City of San Rafael was unexpected, but when I saw how much opportunity there is for government to improve people’s lives by using more of a ‘business mindset’, I jumped at the opportunity.” Sonali Patel, MBA 17 (Executive MBA) Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago “Given my background (former White House policy advisor), it would be too easy to choose Beyond Yourself as my favorite of the Defining Principles. I’ve always been encouraged by mentors and my own curiosity to Question the Status Quo. But questioning is only the beginning; Berkeley-Haas is giving me the skills to undertake the real work of solving tough problems which in turn, contributes to improving the world.” Olivia Anglade, MBA 16 (Full-time MBA) Consultant, The Boston Consulting Group “Everyone at Berkeley-Haas has big ideas, they really do want to go Beyond Themselves by having an impact on society. My personal interest in social impact prompted me to lead a Career Trek to two Bay Area consulting firms that specialize in social impact consulting.” Jacob Kislevitz, MBA 17 (Executive MBA) Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, EY “I work with my clients to realize the value of environmental and social responsibility and strengthen relationships with their customers, employees, suppliers and the communities in which they operate. At Berkeley-Haas I am learning how to better align traditional organizational priorities with leading ethical and responsible corporate practices.” Could an MBA help you make the the difference you want to make? Get our free ebook to take a closer look at social impact opportunities at Berkeley-Haas. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Shoe Designer Finds Berkeley EMBA a Perfect Fit for Her Business |
For Martha Davis, shoes are not solely about fashion. As an industrial designer, she has always valued the unique balance of function and form in footwear, but turning her passion into a business has given her a whole new perspective on the lifecycle of a product. And as a student in the Berkeley MBA for Executives Program, Martha has what she's learned at Haas to expand the vision for her company—beyond the product, and into possibility. Designing Her Career With a degree in sculpture from the Rhode Island School for Design, Martha launched her career in industrial design (designing, among other things, the dial-pack birth control packaging for Johnson & Johnson) and then, with a move to San Francisco, in tech consulting, helping companies like Razorfish and Autodesk with design and marketing. In 2009, she took the leap to pursue a new path that had always been a passion: shoes. "I wanted to design my own product and see it through, which you don't really get to do as a consultant," she says. "I'd always appreciated fashion as a consumer, but had never done any fashion design. It struck me that footwear was unique and actually required a lot of utility like any other product. I also saw that there wasn't a lot of innovation going on in footwear- with materials, manufacturing or design." Enrolling in a trade school technician program in Milan, Martha learned the mechanics of footwear, and gained the essential foundation she needed to launch her own footwear company, Martha Davis Shoes. Building a Brand and a Vision While she was confident in her design eye and ability to produce a beautiful product, Martha realized she was missing a crucial piece for the long-term success of her business: an understanding of the business model around the product. "Designers are taught to be really creative and innovate all the time, but I was missing the business language and understanding of the bigger picture. Every designer should really have that language. It's so important to the success of what you do." While Martha has been extremely successful with the product side of her business, the Berkeley EMBA has given her a larger perspective on her business as a whole. "I've always been interested in the product (the design, the functionality, the look and feel), but until launching my own company, I never had a chance to get involved in the system around it—the business around the product. Now I see that the product is just one piece of an ecosystem. Haas gave me the ability to evaluate and strengthen the business as a much more compelling offering." Applying Berkeley-Haas Experience to Her Own Business The program’s immersive learning experiences have also been helpful, with the Silicon Valley Immersion Week offering insights into innovative business models with unique profitability and scalability. "The week exposed me to founders at many different types of companies. All of them spoke about the importance of balancing a need for capital, while also putting together the right kind of deals, so that you’re able to maintain a certain amount of control in your business." Another source of inspiration has come from the Haas community, including her peers and guest speakers. Even those who are coming from very different career pursuits have proven to be valuable resources for Martha. "The work of classmates in totally different fields can actually apply to my own industry. You don't realize how rich and relevant other perspectives and experience can be to the work you’re doing until you start reaching out and growing those conversations." Hearing Jagdeep Singh, Founder & CEO of QuantumScape, speak during Silicon Valley Immersion Week on how to structure a sustainable business with ethical practices has influenced her own desire to revisit the customer relationship side of her own—an opportunity she's excited about. "I think there's an opportunity to create a deeper relationship with my customer based on what they need, want, and on what brings value to their lives. For me, in addition to financial metrics, success is creating a long-lasting relationship with our customer base that continues to provide them value." Fashioning The Future of Martha Davis Shoes As she applies her experiences and lessons from Haas to her business, Martha is excited about the future of her company, and her role within it. "I know my business will shift going forward to reflect the intersection of design, fashion, and technology and that I will shift to focusing more on the business model than the product." For Martha, Haas was the perfect fit. And in true Haas style, she continues to go beyond herself, asking, "What else can my product be? How can my brand empower my customers more?” With an EMBA from Haas, Martha knows she’ll find the answers. Think Haas could help you turn your passion into meaningful work? Download our free Ebook, Finding More Meaningful Work, to learn how to approach your next career move, and how Haas can prepare you for success. |
FROM Haas Admissions Blog: Why Business School? For a Career Switch to Product Management |
Swetha Tupelly is about to celebrate her first year as a product manager at ServiceMax, a SaaS division of GE Digital. The new position is a big leap from her previous role as a technical lead and engineer at Qualcomm. She worked at the San Diego semiconductor firm for eight years building connectivity in consumer devices. The key tool to making that leap: A Berkeley MBA in the Evening & Weekend Program. Raised in Hyderabad, India, Swetha received her bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and her master’s in electrical engineering from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Her technical training enabled her to move from independent designer to integration lead to managing entire projects. But she was always interested seeing the bigger picture, she says, “and how a product would affect the end user.” “I wanted to be more outwardly focused, to define how the product is designed according to the market,” she remembers. “I was still at the back end of things, not making the big calls.” She began to investigate the role of product manager, with its combination of leadership, business acumen, and technical expertise and to explore different paths toward a product management role. Can an MBA help you switch industries as well as positions? Why business school? “Many people said I didn’t need an MBA,” Swetha says, “but in the end I decided it would be very helpful. It would be a way of differentiating myself, opening some doors, and competing with those who had more PM experience.” She also wanted to move from the semiconductor industry to software, where she felt the opportunities would be greater. She researched business schools’ recruiting resources, career services, and professional support to see if they would make such a transition possible. Once she decided to pursue an MBA, however, there were a few obstacles. She evaluated full-time programs, but that option would mean postponing the family she and her husband wanted to start. “I also didn’t want to begin school and then have a baby right after taking a new job,” she says. “After I had my daughter, it became clear that a part-time MBA program would be a better fit.” Swetha already knew she wanted to attend a branded school like Berkeley-Haas, but she lived in Southern California. By then she also had an 18-month-old baby. She negotiated with her employer to transfer both her and her husband – who also worked for Qualcomm – to the San Jose office. Swetha's pick: the most helpful MBA course for a career switch to product management The Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA curriculum taught Swetha about skills and functions she had been previously unaware of, including sales channel strategies, business model innovations, effective negotiations, and more. “A lot of industry professionals came and spoke, offering so many new perspectives that we could apply to different industries,” she says. She found her marketing analytics course especially helpful: it offered new insights on how to build a business case for analytics, how to think about data, and technical knowledge – from machine-learning algorithms to enterprise software. Now a product manager at a firm providing field service software for big businesses, Swetha is exactly where she’d hoped she’d be. “The past few years have been filled with hard work, difficult decisions, and a fair amount of stress”, she concedes, but she says it’s all been worth it to achieve her goal. “You need to step back and really examine your priorities,” she advises. “Berkeley’s part-time MBA allowed me to make it all work.” Swetha Tupelly decided a career switch to product management was right for her. Are you considering a career switch? Get our five steps toward making your next career move. |
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